Cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/460,763, filed Jun. 13, 2011, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and theinbred cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a cucumber plant of thehybrid designated PS 14743324, the cucumber line ASL M3091019 GY orcucumber line ASL 147-M3092036MO. Also provided are cucumber plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of such aplant. Parts of these cucumber plants are also provided, for example,including pollen, an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell ofthe plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybrid PS14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MOcomprising an added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait maycomprise a genetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessiveallele. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybridPS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MOis defined as comprising a single locus conversion. In specificembodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confers one or moretraits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In furtherembodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurring geneintroduced into the genome of a line by backcrossing, a natural orinduced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

The invention also concerns the seed of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO. Thecucumber seed of the invention may be provided, in particularembodiments, as an essentially homogeneous population of cucumber seedof cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY andASL 147-M3092036MO. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL147-M3092036MO may be provided, in certain embodiments of the invention,as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including at leastabout 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofcucumber plants designated PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASLM3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a cucumber plant of hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber linesASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO is provided. The tissue culturewill preferably be capable of regenerating cucumber plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid PS14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MOinclude those traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerablecells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos,meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,pistils, flowers, seed and stalks. Still further, the present inventionprovides cucumber plants regenerated from a tissue culture of theinvention, the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing cucumber seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent cucumber plant with a second parentcucumber plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parentcucumber plants is a plant of cucumber line ASL M3091019 GY or cucumberline ASL 147-M3092036MO. These processes may be further exemplified asprocesses for preparing hybrid cucumber seed or plants, wherein a firstcucumber plant is crossed with a second cucumber plant of a different,distinct genotype to provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, aplant of cucumber line ASL M3091019 GY or cucumber line ASL147-M3092036MO. In these processes, crossing will result in theproduction of seed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether theseed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent cucumber plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent cucumber plants into plants that bear flowers. A thirdstep may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent cucumber plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent cucumber plants.The harvested seed can be grown to produce a cucumber plant or hybridcucumber plant.

The present invention also provides the cucumber seeds and plantsproduced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent cucumberplant with a second parent cucumber plant, wherein at least one of thefirst or second parent cucumber plants is a plant of cucumber hybrid PS14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO.In one embodiment of the invention, cucumber seed and plants produced bythe process are first generation (F₁) hybrid cucumber seed and plantsproduced by crossing a plant in accordance with the invention withanother, distinct plant. The present invention further contemplatesplant parts of such an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant, and methods of usethereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the inventionprovide an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber linesASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PS 14743324 and/orcucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO, wherein saidpreparing comprises crossing a plant of the hybrid PS 14743324 and/orcucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO with a secondplant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plantto produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. Infurther embodiments, the method may additionally comprise: (c) growing aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progenyplant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of asubsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and repeating thesteps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a plant derived fromhybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL147-M3092036MO. The plant derived from hybrid PS 14743324 and/orcucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO may be an inbredline, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined ascomprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In themethod, it may be desirable to select particular plants resulting fromstep (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL147-M3092036MO is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traitsof the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of cucumberhybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL147-M3092036MO, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and(b) collecting at least one cucumber from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofcucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY andASL 147-M3092036MO is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is usedto refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression ofwhich sequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, acucumber plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complementthus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and ahybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up of a hybridcell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides cucumber plant cellsthat have a genetic complement in accordance with the cucumber plantcells disclosed herein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid PS 14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASLM3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO could be identified by any of themany well known techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence LengthPolymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly AmplifiedPolymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF),Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary PrimedPolymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein byreference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)(Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by cucumber plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a cucumber plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second cucumber plant, preferably, another, distinctcucumber plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides acucumber plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybridgenetic complement of this invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO comprisingdetecting in the genome of the plant at least a first polymorphism. Themethod may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality ofpolymorphisms in the genome of the plant. The method may furthercomprise storing the results of the step of detecting the plurality ofpolymorphisms on a computer readable medium. The invention furtherprovides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324, cucumber line ASLM3091019 GY and cucumber line ASL 147-M3092036MO. The hybrid PS 14743324was produced by the cross of parent lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL147-M3092036MO. The parent lines show uniformity and stability withinthe limits of environmental influence. By crossing the parent lines,uniform seed hybrid PS 14743324 can be obtained.

The development of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and its parent lines canbe summarized as follows.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Cucumber Hybrid PS 14743324

The hybrid PS 14743324 was produced from a cross of the lines designatedASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO, most frequently with ASL147-M3092036MO as a male parent. The parent lines are uniform andstable, as is a hybrid therefrom. A small percentage of variants canoccur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However novariants are expected.

Female parent ASL 147-M3091019 GY traces to an old line from CornellUniversity (MARKETMORE 97F LOT 97-465), which has been selected overseveral generations for fruit quality, DM and GY.

ASL 147-M3092036MO was developed from an initial cross between anAmerican Slicing cucumber line 2117-Mo (95 GH1035-4) with high level ofresistance to Downy mildew to American Slicing cucumber line ASL-2116-Mo(95 GH995) with resistance to Anthracnose, Angular Leaf Spot, PowderyMildew, Scab and Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Papaya Ringspot virus, andZucchini yellow mosaic virus. Both ASL-2117Mo and ASL-2116-Mo areMonoecious Indeterminate American Slicer inbred lines with good fruitquality, dark green fruit color, few spines, blocky and cylindricalshape. Seeds from the initial cross F1 were planted in 1995 in Woodland,Calif. and selfed to generate F2 seeds 95 GH1867. F2 seeds were plantedin the greenhouse in Woodland in 1996 in plot 406 and selection (96GH406-3) was made based on DM resistance, plant habit, fruit shape andfruit color. During 1997 seeds from selection 96 GH406-3 were planted inthe greenhouse in Woodland, Calif. in plot 619 and selections were madebased on disease resistance, plant habit, and fruit quality (97GH619-1).

Seeds from 97 GH619-1 were planted in the Greenhouse during late 1997 inWoodland, Calif. in Plot 1269 and selections were made for plant habit,fruit quality (97 GH1269-2). Seeds from plot 97 GH1269-2 was indexed forDowny mildew in 1999 in the field. The seeds from plot 97 GH1269-2 wasincreased in the Greenhouse in Salama, Guatemala in 2003 in plot 45082.Seeds from this increase was used to make another increase and bulked inTifton, Ga. during the Winter season of 2004 in plot 46598 and the linewas designated as ASL 147-M3092036MO.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber Hybrid PS14743324, Cucumber Line ASL M3091019 GY and Cucumber Line ASL147-M3092036MO

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PS14743324 Characteristic PS 14743324 Cortez 1. Type predominant usageslicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominant culture outdoorgreenhouse area of best adaptation in the most areas most areas USA 2.Maturity days from seeding to market  60  68 maturity 3. Plant habitvine vine cotyledon: bitterness present (Farbio) present growth typeindeterminate (Corona, indeterminate Levina) time of development offemale early (Avir) early flowers (80% of plants with at least onefemale flower) sex monoecious monoecious (plant species in which maleand female organs are found on the same plant but in different flowers -for example maize) sex expression subgynoecious subgynoecious when allthe nodes have female flowers, as well as a few male flowers. Undercertain conditions [light warmth, chemical treatment], none or very fewmale flowers will develop on the nodes. (Toska 70) number of femaleflowers per mostly 2 or 3 (Tempo) mostly 3 or 4 node flower color orangeyellow flower color (RHS color chart  13A  12A value) 4. Main Stem mainstem length 110.8 cm 147.8 cm number of nodes from cotyledon  3.1  3.4leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower internode length  6.1cm  4.8 cm stem form grooved, ridged grooved, ridged plant: total lengthof first 15 medium (Marketmore) medium internodes 5. Leaf mature bladeof third leaf: leaf 101.3 mm 139.3 mm length mature blade of third leaf:leaf 141.3 mm 169.5 mm width mature blade of third leaf: petiole  9.6 cm 15.7 cm length length medium (Briljant) medium ratio length of terminalmedium (Corona) large lobe/length of blade shape of apex of terminallobe obtuse (Melody) acute intensity of green color medium (Rocket GS,medium Stereo) blistering weak (Pepinex 69, absent or very weak RocketGS) undulation of margin moderate absent or very weak dentation ofmargin weak (Hana, Silor) weak ovary: color of vestiture white (Jazzer)white 7. Fruit Set parthenocarpy present (Farbio, Rocket absent GS,Sandra, Wilma) length long (Corona) long 6. Fruit at edible maturity:fruit length  17.5 cm  20.4 cm diameter small (Picobello, medium Wilma)at edible maturity: fruit diameter  4.3 cm  4.3 cm at medial ratiolength/diameter large (Corona) medium core diameter in relation to small(Riesenchäl, medium diameter of fruit Telepathy) shape in transversesection round (Telepathy, angular Susan) shape of stem end obtuse(Maram, Score) obtuse shape of calyx end rounded (Bellissima) obtuse atedible maturity: fruit gram 229.5 gm 229.3 gm weight skin color/mottlingmottled or speckled mottled or speckled with yellow with yellow atedible maturity: yellowish extended less than ⅓ extended less thanblossom end stripes of the fruit length ⅓ of the fruit length at ediblematurity: predominant dark green dark green color at stem end at ediblematurity: Predominant 139A 136A color at stem end (RHS Color Chartvalue) at edible maturity: predominant dark green medium green color atblossom end at edible maturity: predominant 139A 143B color at blossomend (RHS Color Chart value) at edible maturity: fruit neck not neckednot necked shape at edible maturity: fruit tapering ends blunt orrounded ends blunt or rounded at edible maturity: stem end crosscircular circular section at edible maturity: medial cross triangularcircular section at edible maturity: blossom end triangular triangularcross section ground color of skin at market white (Bonneuil) yellowstage intensity of ground color of skin light medium at edible maturity:skin thickness thick thin at edible maturity: skin ribs weak (Darius,Diana) weak sutures present (Nabil, Silor) present creasing present(Corona, Nabil) present degree of creasing weak (Nabil) weak at ediblematurity: skin toughness tender tender at edible maturity: skin lusterdull glossy at edible maturity: spine color white white at ediblematurity: spine quality fine coarse at edible maturity: spine densityfew few type of vestiture prickles only (Corona, prickles only Jazzer)density of vestiture sparse sparse density of vestiture (only white(Jazzer) light brown varieties with white ovary vestiture) warts absent(Diana) absent at edible maturity: flavor bitter bitterfree length ofstripes short (Astrea) long dots present (Delicatesse, absentHanpaku-Fushinari, Sagami-Fanpaku, White Sun) glaucosity absent or veryweak weak (Corona) length of peduncle medium (Fendan) short ground colorof skin at yellow yellow physiological ripeness 7. Fruit seed at harvestmaturity measurements fruit seed length    1 cm   .9 cm measurementsfruit seed diameter   .3 cm   .3 cm at medial color cream cream colorRHS Color Chart value 158A 158A color pattern not striped not stripedsurface smooth smooth netting slight or none slight or none 8. Seedsnumber of seeds per fruit  26.6  22.6 grams per 1,000 seeds   40 gm   30gm *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Othervalues that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope ofthe invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line ASLM3091019 GY Characteristic ASL M3091019 GY Thunderbird 1. Typepredominant usage slicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominantculture outdoor outdoor area of best adaptation in the USA most areasmost areas 2. Maturity days from seeding to market  62  62 maturity 3.Plant habit vine vine cotyledon: bitterness absent (Rocket GS, presentSandra) growth type indeterminate indeterminate (Corona, Levina) time ofdevelopment of female early (Avir) medium flowers (80% of plants with atleast one female flower) sex 100% gynoecious monoecious (plant specieswith all female flowers on the same plant) sex expression gynoeciousmonoecious when all the nodes have only female flowers. Under certainconditions [darkness, cold, chemical treatment], a few male flowers willdevelop. (Farbio, Sandra, Wilma) number of female flowers per nodemostly 4 or 5 mostly 1 (Melody) flower color yellow yellow flower color(RHS color chart  13B  14B value) 4. Main Stem main stem length   115 cm132.6 cm number of nodes from cotyledon  8.8  3 leaves to node bearingthe first pistillate flower internode length  5.9 cm  7.9 cm stem formgrooved, ridged grooved, ridged plant: total length of first 15 mediumlong internodes (Marketmore) 5. Leaf mature blade of third leaf: leaf  122 mm 119.3 mm length mature blade of third leaf: leaf   153 mm 162.4mm width mature blade of third leaf: petiole  12.1 cm  13.4 cm lengthlength medium (Briljant) medium ratio length of terminal lobe/lengthlarge (Melody) large of blade shape of apex of terminal lobe acute(Delikatess) acute intensity of green color medium (Rocket GS, mediumStereo) blistering strong (Tokyo Slicer) medium undulation of marginabsent or weak moderate (Jazzer) dentation of margin weak (Hana, Silor)weak ovary: color of vestiture white (Jazzer) white 7. Fruit Setparthenocarpy present (Farbio, absent Rocket GS, Sandra, Wilma) lengthshort medium 6. Fruit at edible maturity: fruit length  14.6 cm  18.3 cmdiameter small (Picobello, medium Wilma) at edible maturity: fruitdiameter at  3.6 cm  4.2 cm medial ratio length/diameter small (Akord,large Sonate) core diameter in relation to very small small diameter offruit shape in transverse section round to angular round (Dasher) shapeof stem end obtuse (Maram, obtuse Score) shape of calyx end acute(Dardos) acute at edible maturity: fruit gram 264.6 gm 248.8 gm weightskin color/mottling not mottled not mottled at edible maturity:yellowish extended less than extended less than blossom end stripes ⅓ ofthe fruit length ⅓ of the fruit length at edible maturity: predominantlight green dark green color at stem end at edible maturity: Predominant137A 139A color at stem end (RHS Color Chart value) at edible maturity:predominant light green medium green color at blossom end at ediblematurity: predominant 143C 143A color at blossom end (RHS Color Chartvalue) at edible maturity: fruit neck shape not necked not necked atedible maturity: fruit tapering blossom end tapered blossom end taperedat edible maturity: stem end cross circular circular section at ediblematurity: medial cross triangular circular section at edible maturity:blossom end triangular circular cross section ground color of skin atmarket stage yellow (Gele Tros) yellow intensity of ground color of skinlight medium at edible maturity: skin thickness thick thin at ediblematurity: skin ribs medium (Spirit) medium sutures present (Nabil,Silor) present creasing present (Corona, absent Nabil) at ediblematurity: skin toughness tender tender at edible maturity: skin lusterdull dull at edible maturity: spine color white white at ediblematurity: spine quality fine fine at edible maturity: spine density fewfew type of vestiture prickles only prickles only (Corona, Jazzer)density of vestiture sparse medium density of vestiture (only varietieswhite (Jazzer) white with white ovary vestiture) warts absent (Diana)present at edible maturity: flavor bitterfree bitterfree length ofstripes medium (Breso) medium dots present (Delicatesse, absentHanpaku-Fushinari, Sagami-Fanpaku, White Sun) glaucosity absent or veryweak absent or very weak (Corona) length of peduncle short (Admirable)long ground color of skin at yellow yellow physiological ripeness 7.Fruit seed at harvest maturity measurements fruit seed length   .8 cm .84 cm measurements fruit seed diameter at   .3 cm  .34 cm medial colorcream cream color RHS Color Chart value 158A 158A color pattern notstriped not striped surface smooth smooth netting slight or none slightor none 8. Seeds number of seeds per fruit  70  34.3 grams per 1,000seeds   29 gm   28 gm *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line ASL147-M3092036MO ASL 147-M3092036 Characteristic MO Conquistador 1. Typepredominant usage slicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominantculture outdoor outdoor area of best adaptation in the USA most areasmost areas 2. Maturity days from seeding to market  33  65 maturity 3.Plant habit vine vine cotyledon: bitterness present (Farbio) presentgrowth type indeterminate indeterminate (Corona, Levina) time ofdevelopment of female early (Avir) medium flowers (80% of plants with atleast one female flower) sex monoecious (plant monoecious species inwhich male and female organs are found on the same plant but indifferent flowers - for example maize) sex expression monoeciousmonoecious when all the nodes on the plant have both male and femaleflowers, with more male than female flowers on each node. (Hokus) numberof female flowers per node mostly 1 or 2 mostly 1 (Brunex, Marumba)flower color yellow yellow flower color (RHS color chart  12A  14Avalue) 4. Main Stem main stem length 104.4 cm  111 cm number of nodesfrom cotyledon  1.4  1.9 leaves to node bearing the first pistillateflower internode length  5.3 cm  8.1 cm stem form grooved, ridgedgrooved, ridged plant: total length of first 15 medium medium internodes(Marketmore) 5. Leaf mature blade of third leaf: leaf 136.5 mm  137 mmlength mature blade of third leaf: leaf 169.8  175 mm width mature bladeof third leaf: petiole  10.4 cm 15.8 cm length length medium (Briljant)medium ratio length of terminal lobe/length medium (Corona) large ofblade shape of apex of terminal lobe acute (Delikatess) acute intensityof green color dark (Marketmore, dark Sandra, Tokyo Slicer) blisteringweak (Pepinex 69, strong Rocket GS) undulation of margin moderatemoderate dentation of margin medium (Susan) medium ovary: color ofvestiture white (Jazzer) white 7. Fruit Set parthenocarpy absent (Toska70) absent length long (Corona) long 6. Fruit at edible maturity: fruitlength  21.9 cm 19.3 cm diameter medium (Corona, medium Diamant) atedible maturity: fruit diameter at  4.3 cm  4.4 cm medial ratiolength/diameter medium (Jazzer, large Picobello, Wilma) core diameter inrelation to small (Riesenchäl, medium diameter of fruit Telepathy) shapein transverse section round (Telepathy, round Susan) shape of stem endobtuse (Maram, obtuse Score) shape of calyx end obtuse (Reno) rounded atedible maturity: fruit gram 236.5 gm  300 gm weight skin color/mottlingnot mottled not mottled at edible maturity: yellowish absent extendedless than blossom end stripes ⅓ of the fruit length at edible maturity:predominant dark green dark green color at stem end at edible maturity:Predominant 136A 136A color at stem end (RHS Color Chart value) atedible maturity: predominant dark green medium green color at blossomend at edible maturity: predominant 137B 144A color at blossom end (RHSColor Chart value) at edible maturity: fruit neck shape not necked notnecked at edible maturity: fruit tapering ends blunt or rounded blossomend tapered at edible maturity: stem end cross circular circular sectionat edible maturity: medial cross circular circular section at ediblematurity: blossom end circular circular cross section ground color ofskin at market stage green (Corona) green intensity of ground color ofskin medium medium at edible maturity: skin thickness thin thin atedible maturity: skin ribs weak (Darius, Diana) absent sutures present(Nabil, Silor) absent creasing present (Corona, absent Nabil) at ediblematurity: skin toughness tender tender at edible maturity: skin lusterglossy dull at edible maturity: spine color white white at ediblematurity: spine quality coarse coarse at edible maturity: spine densityfew few type of vestiture hairs and prickles prickles only (DeBourbonne, De Massy) density of vestiture medium (Tasty sparse Green)density of vestiture (only varieties white (Jazzer) white with whiteovary vestiture) warts present (Chinese present Slangen, Dumex, Regal)at edible maturity: tubercles (warts) few, prominent few, obscure(Salad) size of warts small (Jazzer) very small at edible maturity:flavor bitterfree bitterfree length of stripes long (Pioneer, Tokyoshort Slicer) dots present (Delicatesse, present Hanpaku-Fushinari,Sagami-Fanpaku, White Sun) distribution of dots evenly distributedpredominantly in (Sagami-Fanpaku) bands length of fruit containing dotsexcluding area distal ⅔ around peduncle density of dots sparse (Raider)medium glaucosity weak (Crispina, Joen- absent or very weak bakdadaki)length of peduncle medium (Fendan) medium ground color of skin at yellowgreen physiological ripeness 7. Fruit seed at harvest maturitymeasurements fruit seed length    1 cm  .85 cm measurements fruit seeddiameter at   .3 cm  .3 cm medial color cream cream color RHS ColorChart value 161C 158C color pattern not striped not striped surfacerough smooth netting slight or none slight or none 8. Seeds number ofseeds per fruit  3 133.5 grams per 1,000 seeds   20 gm   26 gm *Theseare typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other valuesthat are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of theinvention.

C. Breeding Cucumber Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 involving crossing cucumber lines ASLM3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO. Alternatively, in other embodimentsof the invention, hybrid PS 14743324, line ASL M3091019 GY, or line ASL147-M3092036MO may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Suchmethods can be used for propagation of hybrid PS 14743324 and/or thecucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO, or can be used toproduce plants that are derived from hybrid PS 14743324 and/or thecucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MO. Plants derivedfrom hybrid PS 14743324 and/or the cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY andASL 147-M3092036MO may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new cucumber varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid PS 14743324 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PS14743324 and/or cucumber lines ASL M3091019 GY and ASL 147-M3092036MOfor the purpose of developing novel cucumber lines, it will typically bepreferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one ormore selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofcucumber plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PS 14743324 exhibits desirable agronomictraits. The performance characteristics of hybrid PS 14743324 were thesubject of an objective analysis of the performance traits relative toother varieties. The results of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Data for Hybrid PS 14743324 and ComparativeVarieties Mean Std Dev Mean Std Dev (MKTYLD (MKTYLD (YDC (YDC VARIETY NRows TOT) TOT) TOT) TOT) SPEEDWAY 24 57.8 54.8 12.0 8.3 CORTEZ 24 57.061.7 17.0 13.1 PS 14743324 24 52.3 57.2 17.7 14.9

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those cucumber plants which are developed by aplant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalcucumber plant which contributes the locus for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental cucumber plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cucumber plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny cucumber plants of a backcross in which aplant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desiredtrait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of cucumber the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of cucumber plants for breeding is not necessarily dependenton the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including in monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35Spromoter (P-e35S); l the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988);the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwortmosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promotersequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA virus promoters known toexpress in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2)light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcSpromoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding proteinpromoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al.,1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, orSafener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters(e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al.,1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a cucumber plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a cucumber plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a cucumbervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a cucumber plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and inbred parent line ASL147-M3092036MO, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been madewith the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The dates of deposit were Apr. 22, 2011and May 27, 2011, respectively. The accession numbers for thosedeposited seeds of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 and inbred parent lineASL 147-M3092036MO are ATCC Accession Number PTA-11851 and ATCCAccession Number 11905, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,365-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,275-   An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988.-   Bird et al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991.-   Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989.-   Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965, 1988.-   Choi et al., Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994.-   Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990.-   Ellul et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 107:462-469, 2003.-   EP 534 858-   Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985.-   Fromm et al., Nature, 312:791-793, 1986.-   Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989.-   Gibson and Shillito, Mol. Biotech., 7:125, 1997-   Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985.-   Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989.-   Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988.-   Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989.-   Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985.-   Omirulleh et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993.-   Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985.-   Roshal et al., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987.-   Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991.-   Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988.-   Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989.-   Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985.-   Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990.-   Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986.-   Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998.-   Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990.-   WO 99/31248

What is claimed is:
 1. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first setof the chromosomes of cucumber line ASL 147-M3092036MO, a sample of seedof said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No.
 11905. 2. Aseed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of cucumber lineASL 147-M3092036MO, a sample of seed of said line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession No.
 11905. 3. The plant of claim 1, which ishybrid.
 4. The plant of claim 3, wherein the hybrid plant is cucumberhybrid PS 14743324, a sample of seed of said hybrid having beendeposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11851.
 5. A plant part of theplant of claim
 1. 6. The plant part of claim 5, further defined as aleaf, a ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 7. The plant part of claim 6,further defined as a fruit.
 8. A cucumber plant, or a part thereof,having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of thecucumber plant of claim
 1. 9. A cucumber plant, or a part thereof,having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of thecucumber plant of claim
 4. 10. A tissue culture of regenerable cells ofthe plant of claim
 1. 11. The tissue culture according to claim 10,comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from thegroup consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves,anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 12. Acucumber plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 11. 13. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1 comprising thesteps of: (a) obtaining tissue capable of being propagated from a plantaccording to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferatedshoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rootedplantlets.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising growing plantsfrom said rooted plantlets.
 15. A method of introducing a desired traitinto a cucumber line comprising: (a) crossing a plant of line ASL147-M3092036MO, a sample of seed of said line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession No. 11905, with a second cucumber plant thatcomprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny; (b) selecting an F1progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) crossing the selected F1progeny with a plant of line ASL 147-M3092036MO to produce backcrossprogeny; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) three or more times toproduce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise thedesired trait.
 16. A cucumber plant produced by the method of claim 15.17. A method of producing a plant comprising a transgene, the methodcomprising introducing a transgene into a plant of cucumber hybrid PS14743324 or cucumber line ASL 147-M3092036MO, a sample of seed of saidhybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11851and ATCC Accession No. 11905, respectively.
 18. A plant produced by themethod of claim
 17. 19. A plant of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324 orcucumber line ASL 147-M3092036MO further comprising a transgene, asample of seed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-11851 and ATCC Accession No. 11905, respectively. 20.A seed that produces the plant of claim
 19. 21. A plant of cucumberhybrid PS 14743324 or cucumber line ASL 147-M3092036MO furthercomprising a single locus conversion, a sample of seed of said hybridand line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11851 andATCC Accession No. 11905, respectively.
 22. A seed that produced theplant of claim
 21. 23. A method for producing a seed of a plant derivedfrom hybrid PS 14743324 or line ASL 147-M3092036MO comprising the stepsof: (a) crossing a cucumber plant of hybrid PS 14743324 or line ASL147-M3092036MO with a second cucumber plant; a sample of seed of saidhybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11851and ATCC Accession No. 11905, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of ahybrid PS 14743324 or line ASL 147-M3092036MO-derived cucumber plant toform.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of: (c)crossing a plant grown from said hybrid PS 14743324 or ASL147-M3092036MO-derived cucumber seed with itself or a second cucumberplant to yield additional hybrid PS 14743324 or ASL147-M3092036MO-derived cucumber seed; (d) growing said additional hybridPS 14743324 or ASL 147-M3092036MO-derived cucumber seed of step (c) toyield additional hybrid PS 14743324 or ASL 147-M3092036MO-derivedcucumber plants; and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c)and (d) to generate at least a first further hybrid PS 14743324 or ASL147-M3092036MO-derived cucumber plant.
 25. The method of claim 23,wherein the second cucumber plant is of an inbred cucumber line.
 26. Themethod of claim 24, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybridPS 14743324 or ASL 147-M3092036MO-derived cucumber plant with a secondcucumber plant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 27. A methodof producing a cucumber comprising: (a) obtaining a plant according toclaim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b)collecting a cucumber from the plant.
 28. The method of claim 27,wherein the plant is a plant of cucumber hybrid PS 14743324, a sample ofseed of said hybrid PS 14743324 having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-11851.
 29. A method of producing seed comprisingcrossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second plant.